Horsemanship by Xenophon

7/31/2019 Horsemanship by Xenophon

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/horsemanship-by-xenophon 1/24

ONHORSEMANSHIP

ByXenophon

TranslationbyH.G.Dakyns

XenophontheAthenianwasborn431B.C.HewasapupilofSocrates.HemarchedwiththeSpartans,andwasexiledfromAthens.SpartagavehimlandandpropertyinScillus,wherehelivedformanyyearsbeforehavingtomoveoncemore,tosettleinCorinth.Hediedin354B.C.

OnHorsemanshipadvisesthereaderonhowtobuyagoodhorse,andhowtoraiseittobeeitherawarhorseorshowhorse.Xenophonendswithsomewordsonmilitaryequipmentforacavalryman.

Contents

PREPARER'SNOTE

ONHORSEMANSHIP

PREPARER'SNOTE

ThiswastypedfromDakyns'series,"TheWorksofXenophon,"afour-volumeset.ThecompletelistofXenophon'sworks(thoughthereisdoubtaboutsomeofthese)is:

WorkNumberofbooks

TheAnabasis7TheHellenica7TheCyropaedia8TheMemorabilia4TheSymposium1TheEconomist1

OnHorsemanship1TheSportsman1TheCavalryGeneral1TheApology1OnRevenues1TheHiero1TheAgesilaus1ThePolityoftheAtheniansandtheLacedaemonians2

Textinbrackets"{}"ismytransliterationofGreektextinto





hisotherpoints;sincehecouldnotturnasingleoneofthemtogoodaccount.(5)

(4)Or,"andthatacharger,wewillsuppose."Forthesimilesee"Mem."III.i.7.

(5)Cf.Hor."Sat."I.ii.86:regibushicmosest:ubiequosmercantur,opertosinspiciunt,ne,sifacies,utsaepe,decoramollifultapedeest,emptoreminducathiantem,quodpulchraeclunes,brevequodcaput,arduacervix.

andseeVirg."Georg."iii.72foll.

Intestingthefeetthefirstthingtoexaminewillbethehornyportionofthehoof.Forsoundnessoffootathickhornisfarbetterthanathin.Againitisimportanttonoticewhetherthehoofsarehighbothbeforeandbehind,orflattotheground;forahighhoofkeepsthe"frog,"(6)asitiscalled,wellofftheground;whereasalowhooftreadsequallywiththestoutestandsoftestpartofthefootalike,thegaitresemblingthatofabandy-leggedman.(7)"Youmaytellagoodfootclearlybythering,"saysSimonhappily;(8)forthehollowhoofringslikeacymbalagainstthesolidearth.(9)

(6)Lit."theswallow."

(7)Al."aknock-kneedperson."SeeStonehenge,"TheHorse"(ed.1892),pp.3,9.

(8)Or,"andheisright."

(9)Cf.Virg."Georg."iii.88;Hor."Epod."xvi.12.Andnowthatwehavebegunwiththefeet,letusascendfromthispointtotherestofthebody.Thebones(10)abovethehoofandbelowthefetlockmustnotbetoostraight,likethoseofagoat;throughnotbeingproperlyelastic,(11)legsofthistypewilljartherider,andaremoreliabletobecomeinflamed.Ontheotherhand,thesebonesmustnotbetoolow,orelsethefetlockwillbeabradedorlaceratedwhenthehorseisgallopedoverclodsandstones.

(10)i.e."thepasterns({mesokunia})andthecoffinshouldbe'sloping.'"

(11)Or,"beingtooinflexible."Lit."givingblowforblow,overuchlikeanviltohammer."Thebonesoftheshanks(12)oughttobethick,beingastheyarethecolumnsonwhichthebodyrests;thickinthemselves,thatis,notpuffedoutwithveinsorflesh;orelseinridingoverhardgroundtheywillinevitablybesurchargedwithblood,andvaricoseconditionsbesetup,(13)thelegsbecomingthickandpuffy,whilsttheskinrecedes;andwiththislooseningoftheskinthebacksinew(14)isveryapttostartandrenderthehorselame.

(12)i.e."themetacarpalsandmetatarsals."

(13)Or,"andbecomevaricose,withtheresultthattheshanksswellwhilsttheskinrecedesfromthebone."

(14)Or,"suspensoryligament"?PossiblyXenophon'sanatomyiswrong,andhemistookthebacksinewforabonelikethefibula.Thepartinquestionmightintelligiblyenough,ifnottechnically,betermed{perone},beingofthebrooch-pinorder.Iftheyounghorseinwalkingbendshiskneesflexibly,youmaysafelyconjecturethatwhenhecomestoberiddenhewillhaveflexiblelegs,sincethequality



ofsupplenessinvariablyincreaseswithage.(15)Supplekneesarehighlyesteemedandwithgoodreason,renderingastheydothehorselessliabletostumbleorbreakdownfromfatiguethanthoseofstifferbuild.

(15)Lit."allhorsesbendtheirlegsmoreflexiblyastimeadvances."Comingtothethighsbelowtheshoulder-blades,(16)orarms,theseifthickandmuscularpresentastrongerandhandsomerappearance,justasinthecaseofahumanbeing.Again,acomparativelybroadchestisbetteralikeforstrengthandbeauty,andbetteradaptedtocarrythelegswellasunder,sothattheywillnotoverlapandinterferewithoneanother.Again,theneckshouldnotbesetondroppingforwardfromthechest,likeaboar's,but,likethatofagame-cockrather,itshouldshootupwardstothecrest,andbeslack(17)alongthecurvature;whilsttheheadshouldbebonyandthejawbonesmall.Inthiswaytheneckwillbewellinfrontoftherider,andtheeyewillcommandwhatliesbeforethehorse'sfeet.Ahorse,moreover,ofthisbuild,howeverspirited,willbeleastcapableofovermasteringtherider,(18)sinceitisnotbyarchingbutbystretchingouthisneckandheadthatahorseendeavourstoasserthispower.(19)

(16)Lit."thethighsbelowtheshoulder-blades"aredistinguishedfrom"thethighsbelowthetail."Theycorrespondrespectivelytoour"arms"(i.e.forearms)and"gaskins,"andanatomicallyspeaking=theradius(osbrachii)andthetibia.

(17)"Slacktowardstheflexure"(Stonehenge).

(18)Or,"offorcingtherider'shandandbolting."

(19)Or,"todisplayviolenceorrunaway."Itisimportantalsotoobservewhetherthejawsaresoftorhardononeorotherside,sinceasaruleahorsewithunequaljaws(20)isliabletobecomehard-mouthedononeside.

(20)Or,"whosebarsarenotequallysensitive."Again,aprominentratherthanasunkeneyeissuggestiveofalertness,andahorseofthistypewillhaveawiderrangeofvision.

Andsoofthenostrils:awide-dilatednostrilisatoncebetterthanacontract

edoneforrespiration,andgivestheanimalafierceraspect.Notehow,forinstance,whenonestallionisenragedagainstanother,orwhenhisspiritchafesinbeingridden,(21)thenostrilsatoncebecomedilated.

(21)Or,"intheracecourseorontheexercising-groundhowreadilyhedistendshisnostrils."Acomparativelylargecrestandsmallearsgiveamoretypicalandhorse-likeappearancetothehead,whilstloftywithersagainallowtheriderasurerseatandastrongeradhesionbetweentheshouldersandthebody.(22)

(22)OrifwithL.D.({kaitosomati}),transl."adhesiontothehorse'sshoulders."A"doublespine,"(23)again,isatoncesoftertositonthanasingle,andmor

epleasingtotheeye.So,too,afairlydeepsidesomewhatroundedtowardsthebelly(24)willrendertheanimalatonceeasiertositandstronger,andasageneralrulebetterabletodigesthisfood.(25)

(23)ReadingafterCourier{rakhisgemen}.SeeVirg."Georg."iii.87,"atduplexagiturperlumbosspina.""Inahorsethatisingoodcase,thebackisbroad,andthespinedoesnotstickuplikearidge,butformsakindoffurrowontheback"(JohnMartyn);"afullback,"aswesay.



(24)Or,"inproportionto."SeeCourier("DuCommandementdelaCavalerieatdel'Equitation":deuxlivresdeXenophon,traduitsparunofficierd'artillerieacheval),noteadloc.p.83.

(25)i.e."andkeepingoodcondition."Thebroaderandshortertheloinsthemoreeasilywillthehorseraisehisforequartersandbringuphishindquartersunderhim.Giventhesepoints,moreover,thebellywillappearassmallaspossible,aportionofthebodywhichiflargeispartlyadisfigurementandpartlytendstomakethehorselessstrongandcapableofcarryingweight.(26)

(26)Al."morefeebleatonceandponderousinhisgait."Thequartersshouldbebroadandfleshyincorrespondencewiththesidesandchest,andiftheyarealsofirmandsolidthroughouttheywillbeallthelighterfortheracecourse,andwillrenderthehorseineverywaymorefleet.

Tocometothethighs(andbuttocks):(27)ifthehorsehavetheseseparatedbyabroadlineofdemarcation(28)hewillbeabletoplanthishind-legsunderhimwithagoodgapbetween;(29)andinsodoingwillassumeaposture(30)andagaitinactionatonceprouderandmorefirmlybalanced,andineverywayappeartothebestadvantage.

(27)Lit."thethighsbeneaththetail."

(28)Reading{plateiatogrammediorismenousekhe},sc.theperineum.Al.Courier(afterApsyrtus),op.cit.p.14,{plateistekaimediestrammenous},"broadandnotturnedoutwards."

(29)Or,"hewillbesuretospreadwellbehind,"etc.

(30){tonupobasin},tech.ofthecrouchingpostureassumedbythehorseformountingor"indoingthedemi-passade"(soMorgan,op.cit.p.126).Thehumansubjectwouldseemtopointtothisconclusion.Whenamanwantstoliftanythingfromoffthegroundheessaystodosobybringingthelegsapartandnotbybringingthemtogether.

Ahorseoughtnottohavelargetesticles,thoughthatisnotapointtobedeterminedinthecolt.

Andnow,asregardsthelowerparts,thehocks,(31)orshanksandfetlocksandhoofs,wehaveonlytorepeatwhathasbeensaidalreadyaboutthoseofthefore-legs.

(31){tonkatothenastragelon,eknemon},lit."theunder(orhinder?)knuckle-bones(hocks?)orshins";i.e.anatomicallyspeaking,theoscalcis,astragalus,tarsals,andmetatarsallargeandsmall.Iwillherenotesomeindicationsbywhichonemayforecasttheprobablesizeofthegrownanimal.Thecoltwiththelongestshanksatthemomentofbeingfoaledwillgrowintothebiggesthorse;thefactbeinganditholdsofallthedomesti

cquadrupeds(32)thatwithadvanceoftimethelegshardlyincreaseatall,whiletherestofthebodygrowsuniformlyuptothese,untilithasattaineditspropersymmetry.

(32)Cf.Aristot."dePart.Anim."iv.10;"H.A."ii.1;Plin."N.H."xi.108.Suchisthetype(33)ofcoltandsuchtheteststobeapplied,witheveryprospectofgettingasound-footed,strong,andfleshyanimalfineofformandlargeofstature.Ifchangesinsomeinstancesdevelopduringgrowth,thatneednotpreventusfromapplyingourtestsinconfidence.Itfarmoreoftenhappensthata



nugly-lookingcoltwillturnoutserviceable,(34)thanthatafoaloftheabovedescriptionwillturnoutuglyordefective.

(33)Lit."bytestingtheshapeofthecoltinthiswayitseemstousthepurchaserwillget,"etc.

(34)Forthevulg.{eukhroastoi},adoubtfulword="wellcoloured,"i.e."sleekandhealthy,"L.&S.wouldread{eukhrooi}(cf."Pol.Lac."v.8).L.Dind.conj.{enrostoi},"robust";Schneid.{eukhrestoi},"serviceable."IITherightmethodofbreakingacoltneedsnodescriptionatourhands.(1)Asamatterofstateorganisation,(2)cavalrydutiesusuallydevolveuponthosewhoarenotstintedinmeans,andwhohaveaconsiderableshareinthegovernment;(3)anditseemsfarbetterforayoungmantogiveheedtohisownhealthofbodyandtohorsemanship,or,ifhealreadyknowshowtoridewithskill,topractisingmanouvres,thanthatheshouldsetupasatrainerofhorses.(4)Theoldermanhashistownpropertyandhisfriends,andthehundred-and-oneconcernsofstateorofwar,onwhichtoemployhistimeandenergiesratherthanonhorsebreaking.Itisplainthenthatanyoneholdingmyviews(5)onthesubjectwillputayounghorseouttobebroken.Butinsodoingheoughttodrawuparticles,justasafatherdoeswhenheapprenticeshissontosomeartorhandicraft,statingwhatsortofknowledgetheyoungcreatureistobesentbackpossessedof.Thesewillserveasindications(6)tothetrainerwhatpointshemustpayspec

ialheedtoifheistoearnhisfee.Atthesametimepainsshouldbetakenontheowner'sparttoseethatthecoltisgentle,tractable,andaffectionate,(7)whendeliveredtotheprofessionaltrainer.Thatisaconditionofthingswhichforthemostpartmaybebroughtaboutathomeandbythegroomifheknowshowtolettheanimalconnect(8)hungerandthirstandtheannoyanceofflieswithsolitude,whilstassociatingfoodanddrinkandescapefromsourcesofirritationwiththepresenceofman.Astheresultofthistreatment,necessarilytheyounghorsewillacquirenotfondnessmerely,butanabsolutecravingforhumanbeings.Agooddealcanbedonebytouching,stroking,pattingthosepartsofthebodywhichthecreaturelikestohavesohandled.Thesearethehairiestparts,orwhere,ifthereisanythingannoyinghim,thehorsecanleastofallapplyreliefhimself.

(1)Or,"Thetrainingofthecoltisatopicwhich,asitseemstous,mayfairlybeomitted,sincethoseappointedforcavalryserviceinthesestatesarepersonswho,"etc.ForreadingseeCourier,"Notes,"p.84.

(2)"Organisationintheseveralstates."

(3)Or,"Asamatteroffactitisthewealthiestmembersofthestate,andthosewhohavethelargeststakeinciviclife,thatareappointedtocavalryduties."See"Hippparch,"i.9.

(4)Cf."Econ."iii.10.

(5){ego}.Hithertotheauthorhasusedtheplural{emin}withwhichhestarted.

(6)Reading{upodeigmata},"finger-postsigns,"asitwere,or"draftinoutline";al.{upomnemata}="memoranda."

(7)"Gentle,andaccustomedtothehand,andfondofman."

(8)Lit."ifheknowshowtoprovidethathungerandthirst,etc.,shouldbefeltbythecoltinsolitude,whilstfoodanddrink,



etc.,comethroughhelpofman."Thegroomshouldhavestandingorderstotakehischargethroughcrowds,andtomakehimfamiliarwithallsortsofsightsandnoises;andifthecoltshowssignofapprehensionatthem,(9)hemustteachhimnotbycruel,butbygentlehandlingthattheyarenotreallyformidable.

(9)Or,"isdisposedtoshy."Onthistopic,then,oftraining,(10)therulesheregivenwill,Ithink,sufficeforanyprivateindividual.

(10)Or,"Inreferencetohorsebreaking,theaboveremarkswillperhapsbefoundsufficientforthepracticalguidanceofanamateur."IIITomeetthecaseinwhichtheobjectistobuyahorsealreadyfitforriding,wewillsetdowncertainmemoranda,(1)which,ifappliedintelligently,maysavethepurchaserfrombeingcheated.

(1)"Whichthepurchasershouldlaytoheart,ifhedoesnotwishtobecheated."First,then,lettherebenomistakeabouttheage.Ifthehorsehaslosthismarkteeth,(2)notonlywillthepurchaser'shopesbeblighted,buthemayfindhimselfsaddledforeverwithasorrybargain.(3)

(2)Or,"themilkteeth,"i.e.ismorethanfiveyearsold.SeeMorgan,p.126.

(3)Lit."ahorsethathaslosthismilkteethcannotbesaidtogladdenhisowner'smindwithhopes,andisnotsoeasilydisposedof."Giventhatthefactofyouthiswellestablished,lettherebenomistakeaboutanothermatter:howdoeshetakethebitintohismouthandtheheadstall(4)overhisears?Thereneedbelittleambiguityonthisscore,ifthepurchaserwillseethebitinsertedandagainremoved,underhiseyes.Next,letitbecarefullynotedhowthehorsestandsbeingmounted.Manyhorsesareextremelyloathtoadmittheapproachofanythingwhich,ifonceaccepted,clearlymeanstothemenforcedexertion.

(4){koruphaia},partofthe{khalinos}gear.Anotherpointtoascertainiswhetherthehorse,whenmounted,canbeinducedtoleaveotherhorses,orwhenbeingriddenpastagroupofhorsesstanding,willnotboltofftojointhecompany.Somehorsesagain,astheresultofbadtraining,willrunawayfromtheexercising-groundandmakeforthestable.Ahardmouthmaybedetectedbytheexercisecalledthe{pede}orvolte,(5)andstillmoresobyvaryingthedirectionofthevoltetorightorleft.Manyhorseswillnotattempttorunawayexceptfortheconcurrenceofabadmouthalongwithanavenueofescapehome.(6)

(5)SeeSturz,s.v.;Pollux,i.219.Al."thelonge,"butthepassagebelow(vii.14)issuggestiveratherofthevolte.

(6)Al."willonlyattempttoboltwherethepassageouttowardshomecombines,asitwere,withabadmouth."{e...ekphora}="theexitfromthemanegeorridingschool."Anotherpointwhichitisnecessarytolearnis,whetherwhenletgoatfullspeedthehorsecanbepulledup(7)sharpandiswillingtowheelroundinobediencetotherein.

(7){analambanetai},"cometothepoise"(Morgan).For{apostrephesthai}seeix.6;tech."caracole."



Itisalsowelltoascertainbyexperienceifthehorseyouproposetopurchasewillshowequaldocilityinresponsetothewhip.Everyoneknowswhatauselessthingaservantis,orabodyoftroops,thatwillnotobey.Adisobedienthorseisnotonlyuseless,butmayeasilyplaythepartofanarranttraitor.

Andsinceitisassumedthatthehorsetobepurchasedisintendedforwar,wemustwidenourtesttoincludeeverythingwhichwaritselfcanbringtotheproof:suchasleapingditches,scramblingoverwalls,scalingupandspringingoffhighbanks.Wemusttesthispacesbygallopinghimupanddownsteeppitchesandsharpinclinesandalongaslant.Foreachandallofthesewillserveasatouchstonetogaugetheenduranceofhisspiritandthesoundnessofhisbody.

Iamfarfromsaying,indeed,thatbecauseananimalfailstoperformallthesepartstoperfection,hemuststraightwayberejected;sincemanyahorsewillfallshortatfirst,notfrominability,butfromwantofexperience.Withteaching,practice,andhabit,almostanyhorsewillcometoperformallthesefeatsbeautifully,providedhebesoundandfreefromvice.Onlyyoumustbewareofahorsethatisnaturallyofanervoustemperament.Anover-timorousanimalwillnotonlypreventtheriderfromusingthevantage-groundofitsbacktostrikeanenemy,butisaslikelyasnottobringhimtoearthhimselfandplungehimintotheworstofstraits.

Wemust,also,findoutofthehorseshowsanyviciousnesstowardsotherhorsesortowardshumanbeings;also,whetherheisskittish;(8)suchdefectsareapt

tocausehisownertrouble.

(8)Or,"veryticklish."Astoanyreluctanceonthehorse'sparttobeingbittedormounted,dancingandtwistingaboutandtherest,(9)youwillgetamoreexactideaonthisscore,if,whenhehasgonethroughhiswork,youwilltryandrepeatthepreciseoperationswhichhewentthroughbeforeyoubeganyourride.Anyhorsethathavingdonehisworkshowsareadinesstoundergoitallagain,affordssufficientevidencetherebyofspiritandendurance.

(9)Reading{talladineumata},lit."andtherestofhistwistingsandtwirlingsabout."Toputthematterinanutshell:giventhatthehorseissound-footed,gentle,m

oderatelyfast,willingandabletoundergotoil,andaboveallthings(10)obedientsuchananimal,weventuretopredict,willgivetheleasttroubleandthegreatestsecuritytohisriderinthecircumstancesofwar;while,conversely,abeastwhoeitheroutofsluggishnessneedsmuchdriving,orfromexcessofmettlemuchcoaxingandmaneuvering,willgivehisriderworkenoughtooccupybothhishandsandasinkingoftheheartwhendangersthicken.

(10)Al."thoroughly."IVWewillnowsupposethepurchaserhasfoundahorsewhichheadmires;(1)thepurchaseiseffected,andhehasbroughthimhomehowishetobehoused?Itisbestthatthestableshouldbeplacedinaquarteroftheestablishmentwherethemasterwillseethehorseasoftenaspossible.(2)Itisagoodthingalsotohav

ehisstallsoarrangedthattherewillbeaslittleriskofthehorse'sfoodbeingstolenfromthemanger,asofthemaster'sfromhislarderorstore-closet.Toneglectadetailofthiskindissurelytoneglectoneself;sinceinthehourofdanger,itiscertain,theownerhastoconsignhimself,lifeandlimb,tothesafekeepingofhishorse.

(1)Lit."Toproceed:whenyouhaveboughtahorsewhichyouadmireandhavebroughthimhome."

(2)i.e."wherehewillbebroughtasfrequentlyaspossibleunderthe



master'seye."Cf."Econ."xii.20.Norisitonlytoavoidtheriskoffoodbeingstolenthatasecurehorse-boxisdesirable,butforthefurtherreasonthatifthehorsetakestoscatteringhisfood,theactionisatoncedetected;andanyonewhoobservesthathappeningmaytakeitasasignandsymptomeitheroftoomuchblood,(3)whichcallsforveterinaryaid,orofover-fatigue,forwhichrestisthecure,orelsethatanattackofindigestion(4)orsomeothermaladyiscomingon.Andjustaswithhumanbeings,sowiththehorse,alldiseasesaremorecurableattheircommencement(5)thanaftertheyhavebecomechronic,orbeenwronglytreated.(6)

(3)"Aplethoricconditionoftheblood."

(4){krithiasis}.Lit."barleysurfeit";"unefourbure."SeeAristot."H.A."viii.24.4.

(5)i.e."intheearlyacutestages."

(6)Al."andthemischiefhasspread."Butiffoodandexercisewithaviewtostrengtheningthehorse'sbodyaremattersofprimeconsideration,nolessimportantisittopayattentiontothefeet.Astablewithadampandsmoothfloorwillspoilthebesthoofwhichnaturecangive.(7)Topreventthefloorbeingdamp,itshouldbeslopedwithchannels;andtoavoidsmoothness,pavedwithcobblestonessunksidebysideinthegroundandsimilarinsizetothehorse'shoofs.(8)Astablefloorofthissortisca

lculatedtostrengthenthehorse'sfeetbythemerepressureonthepartinstanding.Inthenextplaceitwillbethegroom'sbusinesstoleadoutthehorsesomewheretocombandcurryhim;andafterhismorning'sfeedtounhalterhimfromthemanger,(9)sothathemaycometohiseveningmealwithgreaterrelish.Tosecurethebesttypeofstable-yard,andwithaviewtostrengtheningthehorse'sfeet,Iwouldsuggesttotakeandthrowdownloosely(10)fourorfivewaggonloadsofpebbles,eachaslargeascanbegraspedinthehand,andaboutapoundinweight;thewholetobefencedroundwithaskirtingofirontopreventscattering.Themerestandingonthesewillcometopreciselythesamethingasifforacertainportionofthedaythehorsewere,offandon,steppingalongastonyroad;whilstbeingcurriedorwhenfidgetedbyflieshewillbeforcedtousehishoofsjustasmuchasifhewerewalking.Norisitthehoofsmerely,butasurfacesostrewnwithstoneswilltendtohardenthefrogofthefootalso.

(7)Lit."Adampandsmoothfloormaybetheruinofanaturallygoodhoof."ItwillbeunderstoodthattheGreeksdidnotshoetheirhorses.

(8)SeeCourier,p.54,foraninterestingexperimenttriedbyhimselfatBari.

(9)Cf."Hipparch,"i.16.

(10)Or,"spreadsoastoformasurface."Butifcareisneededtomakethehoofshard,similarpainsshouldbetakentomakethemouthandjawssoft;andthesamemeansandapplianceswhichwillrender

aman'sfleshandskinsoft,willservetosoftenandsuppleahorse'smouth.(11)

(11)Or,"maybeusedwithlikeeffectonahorse'smouth,"i.e.bathing,friction,oil.SeePollux,i.201.VItisthedutyofahorseman,aswethink,tohavehisgroomtrainedthoroughlyinallthatconcernsthetreatmentofthehorse.Inthefirstplace,then,thegroomshouldknowthatheisnevertoknotthehalter(1)atthepointwheretheheadstallisattachedtothehorse'shead.Byconstantlyrubbinghisheadagains



tthemanger,ifthehalterdoesnotsitquitelooseabouthisears,thehorsewillbeconstantlyinjuringhimself;(2)andwithsoressosetup,itisinevitablethatheshouldshowpeevishness,whilebeingbittedorrubbeddown.

(1)Lit."bywhichthehorseistiedtothemanger";"licold'ecurie."

(2)Al."inninecasesoutoftenherubshishead...andtentoonewillmakeasore."Itisdesirablethatthegroomshouldbeorderedtocarryoutthedungandlitterofthehorsetosomeoneplaceeachday.Bysodoing,hewilldischargethedutywithleasttroubletohimself,(3)andatthesametimebedoingthehorseakindness.

(3)Al."getridoftherefuseintheeasiestway."Thegroomshouldalsobeinstructedtoattachthemuzzletothehorse'smouth,bothwhentakinghimouttobegroomedandtotherolling-ground.(4)Infactheshouldalwaysmuzzlehimwheneverhetakeshimanywherewithoutthebit.Themuzzle,whileitisnohindrancetorespiration,preventsbiting;andwhenattacheditservestorobthehorseofopportunityforvice.(5)

(4)Cf."Econ."xi.18;Aristoph."Clouds,"32.

(5)Or,"preventsthehorsefromcarryingoutviciousdesigns."Again,careshouldbetakentotiethehorseupwiththehalterabovehishead.

Ahorse'snaturalinstinct,intryingtoridhimselfofanythingthatirritatestheface,istotossuphishead,andbythisupwardmovement,ifsotied,heonlyslackensthechaininsteadofsnappingit.Inrubbingthehorsedown,thegroomshouldbeginwiththeheadandmane;asuntiltheupperpartsareclean,itisvaintocleansethelower;then,asregardstherestofthebody,firstbrushupthehair,byhelpofalltheordinaryimplementsforcleansing,andthenbeatoutthedust,followingthelieofthehair.Thehaironthespine(anddorsalregion)oughtnottobetouchedwithanyinstrumentwhatever;thehandaloneshouldbeusedtorubandsmoothit,andinthedirectionofitsnaturalgrowth,soastopreservefrominjurythatpartofthehorse'sbackonwhichtheridersits.

Theheadshouldbedrenchedwithwatersimply;for,beingbony,ifyoutrytocl

eanseitwithironorwoodeninstrumentsinjurymaybecaused.So,too,theforelockshouldbemerelywetted;thelonghairsofwhichitiscomposed,withouthinderingtheanimal'svision,servetoscareawayfromtheeyesanythingthatmighttroublethem.Providence,wemustsuppose,(6)bestowedthesehairsuponthehorse,insteadofthelargeearswhicharegiventotheassandthemuleasaprotectiontotheeyes.(7)Thetail,again,andmaneshouldbewashed,theobjectbeingtohelpthehairstogrowthoseinthetailsoastoallowthecreaturethegreatestreachpossibleinbrushingawaymolestingobjects,(8)andthoseoftheneckinorderthattheridermayhaveasfreeagripaspossible.

(6)Lit."Thegods,wemustsuppose,gave..."

(7)Lit."asdefencesorprotectivebulwarks."

(8)Insects,etc.Mane,forelock,andtailaretriplegiftsbestowedbythegodsuponthehorseforthesakeofprideandornament,(9)andhereistheproof:abroodmare,solongashermaneislongandflowing,willnotreadilysufferherselftobecoveredbyanass;hencebreedersofmulestakecaretoclipthemaneofthemarewithaviewtocovering.(10)

(9){aglaiaseneka}(apoeticword).Cf."Od."xv.78;xvii.310.



(10)ForthisbeliefSchneid.cfAristot."H.A."vi.18;Plin.viii.42;Aelian,"H.A."ii.10,xi.18,xii.16,towhichDr.MorganaptlyaddsSoph."Fr."587(Tyro),abeautifulpassage,{komesdepenthoslagkhanopoloudiken,k.t.l.}(cf.Plut."Mor."754A).Washingofthelegsweareinclinedtodispensewithnogoodisdonebutratherharmtothehoofsbythisdailywashing.So,too,excessivecleanlinessofthebellyistobediscouraged;theoperationitselfismostannoyingtothehorse;andthecleanerthesepartsaremade,thethickertheswarmoftroublesomethingswhichcollectbeneaththebelly.Besideswhich,howeverelaboratelyyoucleantheseparts,thehorseisnosoonerledoutthanpresentlyhewillbejustasdirtyasifhehadnotbeencleaned.Omittheseablutionsthen,wesay;andsimilarlyforthelegs,rubbingandcurryingbyhandisquitesufficient.

VIWewillnowexplainhowtheoperationofgroomingmaybeperformedwithleastdangertooneselfandbestadvantagetothehorse.Ifthegroomattemptstocleanthehorsewithhisfaceturnedthesamewayasthehorse,herunstheriskofgettingaknockinthefacefromtheanimal'skneeorhoof.Whencleaninghimheshouldturnhisfaceintheoppositedirectiontothehorse,andplantinghimselfwelloutofthewayofhisleg,atanangletohisshoulder-blade,proceedtorubhimdown.Hewillthenescapeallmischief,andhewillbeabletocleanthefrogbyfoldingbackthehoof.Lethimcleanthehind-legsinthesameway.

Themanwhohastodowiththehorseshouldknow,withregardtothisandallot

hernecessaryoperations,thatheoughttoapproachaslittleaspossiblefromtheheadorthetailtoperformthem;forifthehorseattempttoshowviceheismasterofthemaninfrontandrear.Butbyapproachingfromthesidehewillgetthegreatestholdoverthehorsewiththeleastriskofinjurytohimself.

Whenthehorsehastobeled,wedonotapproveofleadinghimfrominfront,forthesimplereasonthatthepersonsoleadinghimrobshimselfofhispowerofself-protection,whilstheleavesthehorsefreedomtodowhathelikes.Ontheotherhand,wetakealikeexceptiontotheplanoftrainingthehorsetogoforwardonalongrein(1)andleadtheway,andforthisreason:itgivesthehorsetheopportunityofmischief,inwhicheverdirectionhelikes,oneitherflank,andthepoweralsototurnrightaboutandfacehisdriver.Howcanatroopofhorsesbekeptfreeofoneanother,ifdriveninthisfashionfrombehind?whereas

ahorseaccustomedtobeledfromthesidewillhaveleastpowerofmischieftohorseorman,andatthesametimebeinthebestpositiontobemountedbytherideratamoment'snotice,wereitnecessary.

(1)SeeapassagefromStrattis,"Chrys."2(Pollux,x.55),{prosagetonpolonatrema,proslabontonagogeabrakhuteron.oukhorasotiabolosestin}.Inordertoinsertthebitcorrectlythegroomshould,inthefirstplace,approachonthenear(2)sideofthehorse,andthenthrowingthereinsoverhishead,letthemdroplooselyonthewithers;raisetheheadstallinhisrighthand,andwithhisleftpresentthebit.Ifthehorsewilltakethebit,itisasimplebusinesstoadjustthestrapoftheheadstall;butifherefusestoopenhismouth,thegroommustholdthebitagainsttheteethandatthesametimeinsertt

hethumb(3)ofhislefthandinsidethehorse'sjaws.Mosthorseswillopentheirmouthstothatoperation.Butifhestillrefuses,thenthegroommustpressthelipagainstthetush(4);veryfewhorseswillrefusethebit,whenthatisdonetothem.(5)

(2)Lit."ontheleft-handside."

(3){tonmegandaktulon},Hdt.iii.8.

(4)i.e."caninetooth."





leadingrein,whichhangsfromthechin-strapornose-band,(2)convenientlyinhislefthand,heldslacksoasnottojerkthehorse'smouth,whetherhemeanstomountbyhoistinghimselfup,catchingholdofthemanebehindtheears,ortovaultontohorsebackbyhelpofhisspear.Withtherighthandheshouldgripthereinsalongwithatuftofhairbesidetheshoulder-joint,(3)sothathemaynotinanywaywrenchthehorse'smouthwiththebitwhilemounting.Intheactoftakingthespringoffthegroundformounting,(4)heshouldhoisthisbodybyhelpofthelefthand,andwiththerightatfullstretchassisttheupwardmovement(5)(apositioninmountingwhichwillpresentagracefulspectaclealsofrombehind);(6)atthesametimewiththelegwellbent,andtakingcarenottoplacehiskneeonthehorse'sback,hemustpasshislegcleanovertotheoffside;andsohavingbroughthisfootwellround,planthimselffirmlyonhisseat.(7)

(1)Reading{otan...paradexetai...osanabesomenos}.Or,reading{otanparadexetaitonippea(sc.o.ippos)wsanabesomenon},transl."thehorsehasbeenbroughtroundreadyformounting."

(2)SoCourier,"lamuserolle."Itmightbemerelyastitchedleatherstrapormadeofachaininpart,whichrattled;as{khrusokhalinonpatagonpsalion}(Aristoph."Peace,"155)implies."Curb"wouldbemisleading.

(3)"Nearthewithers."

(4)Or,"assoonashehasgotthespringingpoisepreliminarytomounting."

(5)"Givehimselfsimultaneouslyalift."Reading{ekteinon},orif{enteinon},"keepinghisrightarmstiff."

(6)Or,"astyleofmountingwhichwillobviateanungainlyattitudebehind."

(7)Lit."lowerhisbuttocksontothehorse'sback."Tomeetthecaseinwhichthehorsemanmaychancetobeleadinghishorsewitht

helefthandandcarryinghisspearintheright,itwouldbegood,wethink,foreveryonetopractisevaultingontohisseatfromtherightsidealso.Infact,hehasnothingelsetolearnexcepttodowithhisrightlimbswhathehaspreviouslydonewiththeleft,andviceversa.Andthereasonweapproveofthismethodofmountingis(8)thatitenablesthesoldieratoneandthesameinstanttogetastrideofhishorseandtofindhimselfpreparedatallpoints,supposingheshouldhavetoenterthelistsofbattleonasudden.

(8)Lit."Onereasonforthepraisewhichwebestowonthismethodofmountingisthatattheveryinstantofgaininghisseatthesoldierfindshimselffullypreparedtoengagetheenemyonasudden,ifoccasionneed."Butnow,supposingtheriderfairlyseated,whetherbarebackoronasaddle-clot

h,agoodseatisnotthatofamanseatedonachair,butrathertheposeofamanstandinguprightwithhislegsapart.Inthiswayhewillbeabletoholdontothehorsemorefirmlybyhisthighs;andthiserectattitudewillenablehimtohurlajavelinortostrikeablowfromhorseback,ifoccasioncalls,withmorevigorouseffect.Thelegandfootshouldhanglooselyfromtheknee;bykeepingthelegstiff,theriderisapttohaveitbrokenincollisionwithsomeobstacle;whereasaflexibleleg(9)willyieldtotheimpact,andatthesametimenotshiftthethighfromitsposition.Theridershouldalsoaccustomthewholeofhisbodyabovethehipstobeassuppleaspossible;forthushewillenlargehisscopeofaction,andincaseofatugorshovebelessliabletobeunseat



ed.Next,whentheriderisseated,hemust,inthefirstplace,teachhishorsetostandquiet,untilhehasdrawnhisskirtsfromunderhim,ifneedbe,(10)andgotthereinsanequallengthandgraspedhisspearinthehandiestfashion;and,inthenextplace,heshouldkeephisleftarmclosetohisside.Thispositionwillgivetheriderabsoluteeaseandfreedom,(11)andhishandthefirmesthold.

(9)i.e."belowtheknee";"shinandcalf."

(10)Lit."pulledup"(andarrangedthefoldsofhismantle).

(11){eustalestatos},"themostbusiness-likedeportment."Astoreins,werecommendthosewhicharewellbalanced,withoutbeingweakorslipperyorthick,sothatwhennecessary,thehandwhichholdsthemcanalsograspaspear.

Assoonastheridergivesthesignaltothehorsetostart,(12)heshouldbeginatawalkingpace,whichwilltendtoallayhisexcitement.Ifthehorseisinclinedtodroophishead,thereinsshouldbeheldprettyhigh;orsomewhatlow,ifheisdisposedtocarryhisheadhigh.Thiswillsetoffthehorse'sbearingtothebestadvantage.Presently,ashefallsintoanaturaltrot,(13)hewillgraduallyrelaxhislimbswithouttheslightestsuffering,andsocomemoreagreeablytothegallop.(14)Since,too,thepreferenceisgiventostartingontheleftfoot,itwillbestconducetothatleadif,whilethehorseisstilltrot

ting,thesignaltogallopshouldbegivenattheinstantofmakingastepwithhisrightfoot.(15)Asheisonthepointofliftinghisleftfoothewillstartuponit,andwhileturningleftwillsimultaneouslymakethefirstboundofthegallop;(16)since,asamatterofinstinct,ahorse,onbeingturnedtotheright,leadsoffwithhisrightlimbs,andtotheleftwithhisleft.

(12)"Forwards!"

(13)Or,"thetruetrot."

(14){epirrabdophorein},"afastpaceinresponsetoawaveofthewhip."

(15)SeeBerenger,i.p.249;alsothe"CavalryDrillBook,"PartI.Equitation,S.22,"TheCanter."

(16){tesepiskeliseos},"hewillmaketheforwardstrideofthegallopintheactofturningtotheleft."SeeMorganadloc.Asanexercise,werecommendwhatiscalledthevolte,(17)sinceithabituatestheanimaltoturntoeitherhand;whileavariationintheorderoftheturnisgoodasinvolvinganequalisationofbothsidesofthemouth,infirstone,andthentheotherhalfoftheexercise.(18)Butofthetwowecommendtheovalformofthevolteratherthanthecircular;forthehorse,beingalreadysatedwiththestraightcourse,willbeallthemorereadytoturn,andwillbepractisedatonceinthestraightcourseandinwheeling.Atthecurve,heshouldbeheldup,(19)becauseitisneithereasynorindeedsafewhenthehorseisatfulls

peedtoturnsharp,especiallyifthegroundisbroken(20)orslippery.

(17){pede},figureofeight.

(18)Or,"onfirstoneandthentheotherhalfofthemanege."

(19){upolambanein}.See"Hipparch,"iii.14;"Hunting,"iii.10;vi.22,ofadog.

(20){apokroton},al.{epikroton},"beaten,hard-troddenground."



Butincollectinghim,theridershouldaslittleaspossibleswaythehorseobliquelywiththebit,andaslittleaspossibleinclinehisownbody;or,hemayrestassured,atriflewillsufficetostretchhimandhishorsefulllengthupontheground.Themomentthehorsehashiseyesfixedonthestraightcourseaftermakingaturn,isthetimetourgehimtofullspeed.Inbattle,obviously,theseturnsandwheelingsarewithaviewtochargingorretiring;consequently,topractisequickeningthepaceafterwheelingisdesirable.Whenthehorseseemstohavehadenoughofthemanege,itwouldbegoodtogivehimaslightpause,andthensuddenlytoputhimtohisquickest,awayfromhisfellowsfirst,(21)andnowtowardsthem;andthenagaintoquiethimdowninmid-careerasshortaspossible;(22)andfromhaltoncemoretoturnhimright-aboutandoffagainfullcharge.Itiseasytopredictthatthedaywillcomewhentherewillbeneedofeachofthesemanouvres.

(21){mentoi},"ofcourse."

(22)Or,"withinthenarrowestcompass";"asfinelyaspossible."Whenthemomenttodismounthascome,youshouldneverdosoamongotherhorses,nornearagroupofpeople,(23)noroutsidetheexercising-ground;butontheprecisespotwhichisthesceneofhiscompulsoryexertionthereletthehorsefindalsorelaxation.(24)

(23)Or,"aknotofbystanders";cf.Thuc.ii.21.

(24)Or,aswesay,"becaressed,anddismissed."VIIIAstherewill,doubtless,betimeswhenthehorsewillneedtoracedownhillanduphillandonslopingground;times,also,whenhewillneedtoleapacrossanobstacle;or,takeaflyingleapfromoffabank;(1)or,jumpdownfromaheight,theridermustteachandtrainhimselfandhishorsetomeetallemergencies.Inthiswaythetwowillhaveachanceofsavingeachtheother,andmaybeexpectedtoincreasetheirusefulness.

(1){ekpedan}=exsilireinaltum(Sturz,andsoBerenger);"toleapoverditches,anduponhighplacesanddownfromthem."Andhere,ifanyreadershouldaccuseusofrepeatingourselves,onthegroundthatweareonlystatingnowwhatwesaidbeforeonthesametopics,(2)wesayt

hatthisisnotmererepetition.Intheformercase,weconfinedourselvestoadvisingthepurchaserbeforeheconcludedhisbargaintotestwhetherthehorsecoulddothoseparticularthings;(3)whatwearenowmaintainingisthattheowneroughttoteachhisownhorse,andwewillexplainhowthisteachingistobedone.

(2)Or,"treatingofatopicalreadyhandled."

(3)i.e.possessedacertainabilityatthedateofpurchase.Withahorseentirelyignorantofleaping,thebestwayistotakehimbytheleadingrein,whichhangsloose,andtogetacrossthetrenchyourselffirst,andthentopulltightontheleading-rein,toinducehimtoleapacross.Ifherefuses,someonewithawhiporswitchshouldapplyitsmartly.Theresultwillbe

thatthehorsewillclearatabound,notthedistancemerely,butafarlargerspacethanrequisite;andforthefuturetherewillbenoneedforanactualblow,themeresightofsomeonecomingupbehindwillsufficetomakehimleap.Assoonasheisaccustomedtoleapinthiswayyoumaymounthimandputhimfirstatsmallerandthenatlargertrenches.Atthemomentofthespringbereadytoapplythespur;andsotoo,whentraininghimtoleapupandleapdown,youshouldtouchhimwiththespuratthecriticalinstant.Intheefforttoperformanyoftheseactionswiththewholebody,thehorsewillcertainlyperformthemwithmoresafetytohimselfandtohisriderthanhewill,ifhishind-quarterslag,intakingaditchorfence,orinmakinganupwardspringordownwardjump.



(4)

(4)Lit."inmakingthesejumps,springs,andleapsacrossorupordown."Tofaceasteepincline,youmustfirstteachhimonsoftground,andfinally,whenheisaccustomedtothat,hewillmuchpreferthedownwardtotheupwardslopeforafastpace.Andastotheapprehension,whichsomepeopleentertain,thatahorsemaydislocatetheshoulderingallopingdownanincline,itshouldencouragethemtolearnthatthePersiansandOdrysiansallrunracesdownprecipitousslopes;(5)andtheirhorsesareeverybitassoundasourown.(6)

(5)Cf."Anab."IV.viii.28;andsotheGeorgianstothisday(Chardinap.Courier,op.cit.p.70,n.1).

(6)Lit."asarethoseoftheHellenes."Normustweomitanothertopic:howtherideristoaccommodatehimselftotheseseveralmovements.(7)Thus,whenthehorsebreaksoffintoagallop,therideroughttobendforward,sincethehorsewillbelesslikelytoslipfromunder;andsotopitchhisrideroff.Soagaininpullinghimupshort(8)theridershouldleanback;andthusescapeashock.Inleapingaditchortearingupasteepincline,itisnobadplantoletgothereinsandtakeholdofthemane,sothattheanimalmaynotfeeltheburthenofthebitinadditiontothatoftheground.Ingoingdownasteepinclinetheridermustthrowhimselfrightbackandholdinthehorsewiththebit,topreventhimselfbeinghurledheadforemostdow

ntheslopehimselfifnothishorse.

(7)Or,"toeachsetofoccurrences."

(8)Al."whenthehorseisbeingbroughttoapoise"(Morgan);andseeHermannap.Schneid.,{analambanein}=retinereequum,anhalten,pariren.i.e."reinin"ofthe"Parade."Itisacorrectprincipletovarytheseexercises,whichshouldbegonethroughsometimesinoneplaceandsometimesinanother,andshouldsometimesbeshorterandsometimeslongerinduration.Thehorsewilltakemuchmorekindlytothemifyoudonotconfinehimtooneplaceandoneroutine.

Sinceitisamatterofprimenecessitythattheridershouldkeephisseat,whi

legallopingfullspeedoneverysortofground,andatthesametimebeabletousehisweaponswitheffectonhorseback,nothingcouldbebetter,wherethecountrysuitsandtherearewildanimals,thantopractisehorsemanshipincombinationwiththechase.Butwhentheseresourcesfail,agoodexercisemaybesuppliedinthecombinedeffortsoftwohorsemen.(9)Oneofthemwillplaythepartoffugitive,retreatinghelter-skelterovereverysortofground,withlancereversedandplyingthebuttend.Theotherpursues,withbuttonsonhisjavelinsandhislancesimilarlyhandled.(10)Wheneverhecomeswithinjavelinrangeheletsflyattheretreatingfoemanwithhisbluntedmissiles;orwheneverwithinspearthrusthedealstheovertakencombatantablow.Incomingtoclosequarters,itisagoodplanfirsttodragthefoemantowardsoneself,andthenonasuddentothrusthimoff;thatisadevicetobringhimtotheground.(11)Thecorrectplanforthemansodraggedistopresshishorseforward:bywhichactiont

hemanwhoisbeingdraggedismorelikelytounhorsehisassailantthantobebroughttothegroundhimself.

(9){ippota}.Apoeticword;"cavaliers."

(10)Or,"manipulated."

(11)Or,"thatmaybespokenoffasthe'purltrick'";"itwillunhorsehimifanything."Ifiteverhappensthatyouhaveanenemy'scampinfront,andcavalryskirmishi



ngistheorderoftheday(atonetimechargingtheenemyrightuptothehostilebattle-line,andagainbeatingaretreat),underthesecircumstancesitiswelltobearinmindthatsolongastheskirmisherisclosetohisownparty,(12)valouranddiscretionalikedictatetowheelandchargeinthevanguardmightandmain;butwhenhefindshimselfincloseproximitytothefoe,hemustkeephishorsewellinhand.This,inallprobability,willenablehimtodothegreatestmischieftotheenemy,andtoreceiveleastdamageathishands.

(12)See"Hipparch,"viii.23.Thegodshavebestowedonman,indeed,thegiftofteachingmanhisdutybymeansofspeechandreasoning,butthehorse,itisobvious,isnotopentoinstructionbyspeechandreasoning.Ifyouwouldhaveahorselearntoperformhisduty,yourbestplanwillbe,wheneverhedoesasyouwish,toshowhimsomekindnessinreturn,andwhenheisdisobedienttochastisehim.Thisprinciple,thoughcapableofbeingstatedinafewwords,isonewhichholdsgoodthroughoutthewholeofhorsemanship.As,forinstance,ahorsewillmorereadilytakethebit,ifeachtimeheacceptsitsomegoodbefallshim;or,again,hewillleapditchesandspringupembankmentsandperformalltheotherfeatsincumbentonhim,ifhebeledtoassociateobediencetothewordofcommandwithrelaxation.(13)

(13)Lit."ifeverytimeheperformsthewordofcommandheisledtoexpectsomerelaxation."IXThetopicshithertoconsideredhavebeen:firstly,howtoreducethechanceofb

eingcheatedinthepurchaseofacoltorfull-grownhorse;secondly,howtoescapeasmuchaspossibletheriskofinjuringyourpurchasebymishandling;andlastly,howtosucceedinturningoutahorsepossessedofallthequalitiesdemandedbythecavalrysoldierforthepurposesofwar.

Thetimehascomeperhapstoaddafewsuggestions,incasetheridershouldbecalledupontodealwithananimaleitherundulyspiritedoragainundulysluggishindisposition.Thefirstpointtorecogniseis,thattemperofspiritinahorsetakestheplaceofpassionorangerinaman;andjustasyoumaybestescapeexcitingaman'sill-temperbyavoidingharshnessofspeechandact,soyouwillbestavoidenragingaspiritedhorsebynotannoyinghim.Thus,fromthefirstinstant,intheactofmountinghim,youshouldtakepainstominimisetheannoyance;andonceonhisbackyoushouldsitquietforlongerthantheordinary

time,andsourgehimforwardbythegentlestsignspossible;next,beginningattheslowestpace,graduallyworkhimintoaquickerstep,butsograduallythathewillfindhimselfatfullspeedwithoutnoticingit.(1)Anysuddensignalwillbewilderaspiritedhorse,justasamanisbewilderedbyanysuddensightorsoundorotherexperience.(Isayoneshouldbeawarethatanyunexpectedshockwillproducedisturbanceinahorse.)(2)

(1)Or,"sothatthehorsemayinsensiblyfallintoagallop."

(2)L.Dindorfandothersbracket,asspurious.Soifyouwishtopullupaspiritedhorsewhenbreakingoffintoaquickerpacethanrequisite,youmustnotsuddenlywrenchhim,butquietlyandgentlybringthebittobearuponhim,coaxinghimratherthancompellinghimtocalmdown.I

tisthelongsteadycourseratherthanthefrequentturnwhichtendstocalmahorse.(3)Aquietpacesustainedforalongtimehasacaressing,(4)soothingeffect,thereverseofexciting.Ifanyoneproposesbyaseriesoffastandoft-repeatedgallopstoproduceasenseofwearinessinthehorse,andsototamehim,hisexpectationwillnotbejustifiedbytheresult;forundersuchcircumstancesaspiritedhorsewilldohisbesttocarrythedaybymainforce,(5)andwithashowoftemper,likeapassionateman,maycontrivetobringonhimselfandhisriderirreparablemischief.

(3)Or,"longstretchesratherthanasuccessionofturnsandcounter



turns,"{apostrophai}.

(4)Reading{katapsosi}withL.Dind.

(5){ageinbia},viagere,viuti,Sturz;al."gohisowngaitbysheerforce."Aspiritedhorseshouldbekeptincheck,sothathedoesnotdashoffatfullspeed;andonthesameprinciple,youshouldabsolutelyabstainfromsettinghimtoraceagainstanother;asageneralrule,yourfiery-spiritedhorseisonlytoofondofcontention.(6)

(6)Reading{skhedongarkaiphiloithum},orif{...oithilkaith.}transl."themoreeagerandambitiousahorseis,themoremettlesomehewilltendtobecome."Smoothbitsarebetterandmoreserviceablethanrough;ifaroughbitbeinsertedatall,itmustbemadetoresembleasmoothoneasmuchaspossiblebylightnessofhand.

Itisagoodthingalsofortheridertoaccustomhimselftokeepaquietseat,especiallywhenmountedonaspiritedhorse;andalsototouchhimaslittleaspossiblewithanythingexceptthatpartofthebodynecessarytosecureafirmseat.

Again,itshouldbeknownthattheconventional"chirrup"(7)toquietand"cluc

k"torouseahorseareasortofpreceptofthetrainingschool;andsupposinganyonefromthebeginningchosetoassociatesoftsoothingactionswiththe"cluck"sound,andharshrousingactionswiththe"chirrup,"thehorsecouldbetaughttorousehimselfatthe"chirrup"andtocalmhimselfatthe"cluck"sound.Onthisprinciple,atthesoundofthetrumpetortheshoutofbattletheridershouldavoidcominguptohischargerinastateofexcitement,or,indeed,bringinganydisturbinginfluencetobearontheanimal.Asfaraspossible,atsuchacrisisheshouldhaltandresthim;and,ifcircumstancespermit,givehimhismorningorhiseveningmeal.Butthebestadviceofallisnottogetanover-spiritedhorseforthepurposesofwar.

(7)Al."whistling,"andseeBerenger,ii.68.{poppusmos},asoundfromthelips;{klogmos},fromthecheek.

Astothesluggishtypeofanimal,Ineedonlysuggesttodoeverythingtheoppositetowhatweadviseasappropriateindealingwithananimalofhighspirit.

XButpossiblyyouarenotcontentwithahorseserviceableforwar.Youwanttofindhimhimashowy,attractiveanimal,withacertaingrandeurofbearing.Ifso,youmustabstainfrompullingathismouthwiththebit,orapplyingthespurandwhipmethodscommonlyadoptedbypeoplewithaviewtoafineeffect,though,asamatteroffact,theytherebyachievetheveryoppositeofwhattheyareaimingat.Thatistosay,bydraggingthemouthuptheyrenderthehorseblindinsteadofalivetowhatisinfrontofhim;andwhatwithspurringandwhippingtheydistractthecreaturetothepointofabsolutebewildermentanddanger.(1)Featsindeed!thefeatsofhorseswithastrongdisliketobeingriddenuptoallso

rtsofuglyandungainlytricks.Onthecontrary,letthehorsebetaughttoberiddenonaloosebridle,andtoholdhisheadhighandarchhisneck,andyouwillpracticallybemakinghimperformtheveryactswhichhehimselfdelightsorratherexultsin;andthebestproofofthepleasurewhichhetakesis,thatwhenheisletloosewithotherhorses,andmoreparticularlywithmares,youwillseehimrearhisheadalofttothefullheight,andarchhisneckwithnervousvigour,(2)pawingtheairwithpliantlegs(3)andwavinghistailonhigh.Bytraininghimtoadopttheveryairsandgraceswhichhenaturallyassumeswhenshowingofftobestadvantage,youhavegotwhatyouareaimingatahorsethatdelightsinbeingridden,asplendidandshowyanimal,thejoyofallbeholders.



(1)Al."theanimalsaresoscaredthat,thechancesare,theyarethrownintodisorder."

(2){gorgoumenos},withprideandspirit,butwithasuggestionof"fiercenessandrage,"asofJob'swar-horse.

(3)"Molliacrurareponit,"Virg."Georg."iii.76;Hom."Hymn.adMerc."Howthesedesirableresultsare,inouropinion,tobeproduced,wewillnowendeavourtoexplain.Inthefirstplace,then,yououghttohaveatleasttwobits.Oneoftheseshouldbesmooth,withdiscsofagoodsize;theothershouldhaveheavyandflatdiscs(4)studdedwithsharpspikes,sothatwhenthehorseseizesitanddislikestheroughnesshewilldropit;thenwhenthesmoothisgivenhiminstead,heisdelightedwithitssmoothness,andwhateverhehaslearntbeforeupontherough,hewillperformwithgreaterrelishonthesmooth.Hemaycertainly,outofcontemptforitsverysmoothness,perpetuallytrytogetapurchaseonit,andthatiswhyweattachlargediscstothesmoothbit,theeffectofwhichistomakehimopenhismouth,anddropthemouthpiece.Itispossibletomaketheroughbitofeverydegreeofroughnessbykeepingitslackortaut.

(4)SeeMorgan,op.cit.p.144foll.But,whateverthetypeofbitmaybe,letitinanycasebeflexible.Ifitbestiff,atwhateverpointthehorseseizesithemusttakeitupbodilyagainsthi

sjaws;justasitdoesnotmatteratwhatpointamantakesholdofabarofiron,(5)heliftsitasawhole.Theotherflexiblyconstructedtypeactslikeachain(onlythesinglepointatwhichyouholditremainsstiff,theresthangsloose);andwhileperpetuallyhuntingfortheportionwhichescapeshim,heletsthemouthpiecegofromhisbars.(6)Forthisreasontheringsarehunginthemiddlefromthetwoaxles,(7)sothatwhilefeelingforthemwithhistongueandteethhemayneglecttotakethebitupagainsthisjaws.

(5)Or,"poker,"aswemightsay;lit."spit."

(6)Schneid.cf.Eur."Hippol."1223.

(7)SeeMorgan,noteadloc.Berenger(i.261)notes:"Wehaveasmall

chainintheupsetorhollowpartofourbits,calleda'Player,'withwhichthehorseplayingwithhistongue,androllingitabout,keepshismouthmoistandfresh;and,asXenophonhints,itmayservelikewisetofixhisattentionandpreventhimfromwrithinghismouthabout,orastheFrenchcallit,'fairesesforces.'"Toexplainwhatismeantbyflexibleandstiffasappliedtoabit,wewilldescribethematter.Aflexiblebitisoneinwhichtheaxleshavetheirpointsofjunctionbroadandsmooth,(8)soastobendeasily;andwheretheseveralpartsfittingroundtheaxles,beinglargeofapertureandnottoocloselypacked,havegreaterflexibility;whereas,iftheseveralpartsdonotslidetoandfrowithease,andplayintoeachother,thatiswhatwecallastiffbit.Whateverthekindofbitmaybe,theridermustcarryoutpreciselythesamerulesinusing

it,asfollows,ifhewishestoturnoutahorsewiththequalitiesdescribed.Thehorse'smouthisnottobepulledbacktooharshlysoastomakehimtosshisheadaside,noryetsogentlythathewillnotfeelthepressure.Buttheinstantheraiseshisneckinanswertothepull,givehimthebitatonce;andsothroughout,asweneverceaserepeating,ateveryresponsetoyourwishes,wheneverandwherevertheanimalperformshisservicewell,(9)rewardandhumourhim.Thus,whentheriderperceivesthatthehorsetakesapleasureinthehigharchingandsuppleplayofhisneck,lethimseizetheinstantnottoimposesevereexertiononhim,likeataskmaster,butrathertocaressandcoaxhim,asifanxioustogivehimarest.Inthiswaythehorsewillbeencouragedandfallintoa



rapidpace.

(8)i.e."theendsoftheaxles(atthepointofjunction)whichworkintoeachotherarebroadandsmooth,soastoplayfreelyatthejoin."

(9)"Behavescompliantly."Thatahorsetakespleasureinswiftmovement,maybeshownconclusively.Assoonashehasgothisliberty,hesetsoffatatrotorgallop,neveratawalkingpace;sonaturalandinstinctiveapleasuredoesthisactionaffordhim,ifheisnotforcedtoperformittoexcess;sinceitistrueofhorseandmanalikethatnothingispleasantifcarriedtoexcess.(10)

(10)L.Dind.cf.Eur."Med."128,{tade'uperballontoudenakairon}.Butnowsupposehehasattainedtothegrandstylewhenriddenwehaveaccustomedhimofcourseinhisfirstexercisetowheelandfallintoacantersimultaneously;assumingthen,hehasgotthatlessonwellbyheart,iftheriderpullshimupwiththebitwhilesimultaneouslygivinghimoneofthesignalstobeoff,thehorse,galledontheonehandbythebit,andontheothercollectinghimselfinobediencetothesignal"off,"willthrowforwardhischestandraisehislegsaloftwithfieryspirit;thoughnotindeedwithsuppleness,forthesuppleplayofthelimbsceasesassoonasthehorsefeelsannoyance.Butnow,supposingwhenhisfireisthusenkindled(11)yougivehimtherein,theeffectisinstantaneous.Underthepleasurablesenseoffreedom,thankstotherelaxationofthe

bit,withstatelybearingandlegspliantlymovinghedashesforwardinhispride,ineveryrespectimitatingtheairsandgracesofahorseapproachingotherhorses.Listentotheepithetswithwhichspectatorswilldescribethetypeofhorse:thenobleanimal!andwhatwillingnesstowork,whatpaces,(12)whataspiritandwhatmettle;howproudlyhebearshimself(13)ajoyatonce,andyetaterrortobehold.

(11)Cf."Hell."V.iv.46,"kindledintonewlife."

(12){ipposten},"atruesoldier'shorse."

(13){sobaron},"whatapushandswagger";{kaiamaeduntekaigorgonidein},"alafoisdouxetterribleavoir,"seeVictor

Cherbuliez,"UnChevaldePhidias,"p.148.Thusfaronthistopic;thesenotesmayserveperhapstomeetaspecialneed.

XIIf,however,thewishistosecureahorseadaptedtoparadeandstateprocessions,ahighstepperandashowy(1)animal,thesearequalitiesnottobefoundcombinedineveryhorse,buttobeginwith,theanimalmusthavehighspiritandastalwartbody.Notthat,assomethink,ahorsewithflexiblelegswillnecessarilybeabletorearhisbody.Whatwewantisahorsewithsuppleloins,andnotsuppleonlybutshortandstrong(Idonotmeantheloinstowardsthetail,butbythebellytheregionbetweentheribsandthighs).Thatisthehorsewhowillbeabletoplanthishind-legswellundertheforearm.Ifwhileheissoplantinghishind-quarters,heispulledupwiththebit,helowershishind-legso

nhishocks(2)andraisestheforepartofhisbody,sothatanyoneinfrontofhimwillseethewholelengthofhisbellytothesheath.(3)Atthemomentthehorsedoesthis,theridershouldgivehimtherein,sothathemaydisplaythenoblestfeatswhichahorsecanperformofhisownfreewill,tothesatisfactionofthespectators.

(1){lampros}.Cf.Isae.xi.41("OntheestateofHagnias"),Lys.xix.63("deBon.Arist.").

(2)SeeBerenger,ii.68.



(3)Lit."testicles."Thereare,indeed,othermethodsofteachingthesearts.(4)Somedosobytouchingthehorsewithaswitchunderthehocks,othersemployanattendanttorunalongsideandstrikethehorsewithastickunderthegaskins.Forourselves,however,farthebestmethodofinstruction,(5)aswekeeprepeating,istoletthehorsefeelthatwhateverhedoesinobediencetotherider'swisheswillbefollowedbysomerestandrelaxation.

(4)Lit."People,itmustbeadmitted,claimtoteachtheseartsinvariouswayssomeby...othersbybidding..."

(5)Reading{didaskalion},al.{didaskalion},"systems."Schneid.cf.Herod.v.58.ToquoteadictumofSimon,whatahorsedoesundercompulsionhedoesblindly,andhisperformanceisnomorebeautifulthanwouldbethatofaballet-dancertaughtbywhipandgoad.Theperformancesofhorseormansotreatedwouldseemtobedisplaysofclumsygesturesratherthanofgraceandbeauty.Whatweneedisthatthehorseshouldofhisownaccordexhibithisfinestairsandpacesatsetsignals.(6)Supposing,whenheisintheriding-field,(7)youpushhimtoagallopuntilheisbathedinsweat,andwhenhebeginstopranceandshowhisairstofineeffect,youpromptlydismountandtakeoffthebit,youmayrelyuponithewillofhisownaccordanothertimebreakintothesameprancingaction.Sucharethehorsesonwhichgodsandheroesride,asrepresentedbytheartist

.Themajestyofmenthemselvesisbestdiscoveredinthegracefulhandlingofsuchanimals.(8)Ahorsesoprancingisindeedathingofbeauty,awonderandamarvel;rivetingthegazeofallwhoseehim,youngalikeandgraybeards.Theywillneverturntheirbacks,Iventuretopredict,orwearyoftheirgazingsolongashecontinuestodisplayhissplendidaction.

(6)Or,"byaidsandsigns,"aswesay.

(7)Or,"exercising-ground."

(8)Or,"andthemanwhoknowshowtomanagesuchacreaturegracefullyhimselfatonceappearsmagnificent."Ifthepossessorofsorareacreatureshouldfindhimselfbychanceintheposi

tionofasquadronleaderorageneralofcavalry,hemustnotconfinehiszealtothedevelopmentofhispersonalsplendour,butshouldstudyallthemoretomakethetrooporregimentasplendidspectacle.Supposing(inaccordancewiththehighpraisebestoweduponthetypeofanimal)(9)theleaderismountedonahorsewhichwithhishighairsandfrequentprancingmakesbuttheslightestmovementforwardobviouslytherestofthetroopmustfollowatawalkingpace,andonemayfairlyaskwhereistheelementofsplendourinthespectacle?Butnowsupposethatyou,sir,beingattheheadoftheprocession,rouseyourhorseandtaketheleadatapaceneithertoofastnoryettooslow,butinawaytobringoutthebestqualitiesinalltheanimals,theirspirit,fire,graceofmienandbearingripeforactionIsay,ifyoutaketheleadoftheminthisstyle,thecollectivethud,thegeneralneighingandthesnortingofthehorseswillcombinetorendernotonlyyouatthehead,butyourwholecompany(10)downtothelast

manathrillingspectacle.

(9)Readingasvulg.{osmalistaepainousitoustoioutousippous,os}.L.Dind.omitsthewordsasagloss.

(10)Reading{oi}(for{osoi}){sumparepomenoi}.SeeHartmann,"An.Xen.Nov."xiv.p.343.Onewordmore.Supposingamanhasshownsomeskillinpurchasinghishorses,andcanrearthemintostrongandserviceableanimals,supposingfurtherhecanhandlethemintherightway,notonlyinthetrainingforwar,butinexercisesw



ithaviewtodisplay,orlastly,inthestressofactualbattle,whatistheretopreventsuchamanfrommakingeveryhorseheownsoffarmorevalueintheendthanwhenheboughtit,withthefurtheroutlookthat,unlesssomepowerhigherthanhumaninterpose,(11)hewillbecometheownerofacelebratedstable,andhimselfascelebratedforhisskillinhorsemanship.

(11)Or,"thereisnothing,humanlyspeaking,topreventsuchaman."Forthephrasesee"Mem."I.iii.5;cf."Cyrop."I.vi.18;andfortheadvice,"Econ."iii.9,10.XIIWewillnowdescribethemannerinwhichatrooperdestinedtoruntherisksofbattleuponhorsebackshouldbearmed.Inthefirstplace,then,wewouldinsist,thecorseletmustbemadetofittheperson;since,ifitfitswell,itsweightwillbedistributedoverthewholebody;whereas,iftooloose,theshoulderswillhavealltheweighttobear,while,iftootight,thecorseletisnolongeradefensivearm,buta"straitjacket."(1)Again,theneck,asbeingavitalpart,(2)oughttohave,aswemaintain,acovering,appendedtothecorseletandclose-fitting.Thiswillserveasanornament,andifmadeasitoughttobe,willconcealtherider'sfaceifsohechoosesuptothenose.

(1)Cf."Mem."III.x.

(2)L.Dind.cf.Hom."Il."viii.326:{...othikleisapoergeiaukhenatestethoste,malistadekairionestin.}

"Wherethecollar-bonefencethoffneckandbreast,andwhereisthemostdeadlyspot"(W.Leaf).

Astothehelmet,thebestkind,inouropinion,isoneoftheBoeotianpattern,(3)ontheprincipleagain,thatitcoversallthepartsexposedabovethebreastplatewithouthinderingvision.Anotherpoint:thecorseletshouldbesoconstructedthatitdoesnotpreventitswearersittingdownorstooping.Abouttheabdomenandthegenitalsandpartssurrounding(4)flapsshouldbeattachedintextureandinthicknesssufficienttoprotect(5)thatregion.

(3)Schneidercf.Aelian,"V.H."iii.24;Pollux,i.149.

(4)Schneidercf."Anab."IV.vii.15,andfor{kaitakuklo},conj.{kuklo},"theabdomenandmiddleshouldbeencircledbyaskirt."

(5)Lit."lettherebewingsofsuchsort,size,andnumberastoprotectthelimbs."Again,asaninjurytothelefthandmaydisablethehorseman,wewouldrecommendthenewly-inventedpieceofarmourcalledthegauntlet,whichprotectstheshoulder,arm,andelbow,withthehandengagedinholdingthereins,beingsoconstructedastoextendandcontract;inadditiontowhichitcoversthegapleftbythecorseletunderthearmpit.Thecaseisdifferentwiththerighthand,whichthehorsemanmustneedsraisetodischargeajavelinorstrikeablow.Here,accordingly,anypartofthecorseletwhichwouldhinderactionouttoberemoved;inplaceofwhichthecorseletoughttohavesomeextraflaps(6)atthejoint

s,whichastheoutstretchedarmisraisedunfold,andasthearmdescendsclosetightagain.Thearmitself,(7)itseemstous,willbetterbeprotectedbyapiecelikeagreavestretchedoveritthanboundupwiththecorselet.Again,thepartexposedwhentherighthandisraisedshouldbecoveredclosetothecorseleteitherwithcalfskinorwithmetal;orelsetherewillbeawantofprotectionjustatthemostvitalpoint.

(6){prosthetai},"moveable,""false."For{gigglumois}L.&S.cf.Hipp.411.12;Aristot."deAn."iii.10.9="ball-and-socketjoints."



(7)i.e."forearm."Moreover,asanydamagedonetothehorsewillinvolvehisriderinextremeperil,thehorsealsoshouldbecladinarmourfrontlet,breastplate,andthigh-pieces;(8)whichlattermayatthesametimeserveascuissesforthemountedman.Beyondallelse,thehorse'sbelly,beingthemostvitalanddefencelesspart,shouldbeprotected.Itispossibletoprotectitwiththesaddle-cloth.Thesaddleitselfshouldbeofsuchsortandsostitchedastogivetheriderafirmseat,andyetnotgallthehorse'sback.

(8)Cf."Cyrop."VI.iv.1;VII.i.2.Asregardsthelimbsingeneral,bothhorseandridermaybelookeduponasfullyarmed.Theonlypartsremainingaretheshinsandfeet,whichofcourseprotrudebeyondthecuisses,butthesealsomaybearmedbytheadditionofgaitersmadeofleatherlikethatusedformakingsandals.Andthusyouwillhaveatoncedefensivearmourfortheshinsandstockingsforthefeet.

Theabove,withtheblessingofheaven,willserveforarmourofdefence.Tocometoweaponsofoffence,werecommendthesabreratherthanthestraightsword,(9)sincefromthevantage-groundofthehorse'spositionthecurvedbladewilldescendwithgreaterforcethantheordinaryweapon.

(9)The{makhaira}(or{kopis}),Persianfashion,ratherthanthe{xephos}."Cyrop."I.ii.13.

Again,inplaceofthelongreedspear,whichisapttobeweakandawkwardtocarry,wewouldsubstitutetwodartsofcornel-wood;(10)theoneofwhichtheskilfulhorsemancanletfly,andstillplytheonereservedinalldirections,forwards,backwards,(11)andobliquely;addtothat,thesesmallerweaponsarenotonlystrongerthanthespearbutfarmoremanageable.

(10)Forthesereforms,theresultoftheauthor'sAsiaticexperiencesperhaps,cf."Hell."III.iv.14;"Anab."I.viii.3;"Cyrop."I.ii.9.

(11)Reading{eistoupisthen}afterLeoncl.Asregardsrangeofdischargeinshootingweareinfavourofthelongestpossible,asgivingmoretimetorally(12)andtransferthesecondjavelintotherig

hthand.Andherewewillstateshortlythemosteffectivemethodofhurlingthejavelin.Thehorsemanshouldthrowforwardhisleftside,whiledrawingbackhisright;thenrisingbodilyfromthethighs,heshouldletflythemissilewiththepointslightlyupwards.Thedartsodischargedwillcarrywiththegreatestforceandtothefarthestdistance;wemayadd,too,withthetruestaim,ifatthemomentofdischargethelancebedirectedsteadilyontheobjectaimedat.(13)

(12)Al."toturnright-about."

(13)"Ifthelanceissteadilyeyeingthemarkattheinstantofdischarge."Thistreatise,consistingofnotesandsuggestions,lessonsandexercisessuited

toaprivateindividual,mustcometoaconclusion;thetheoryandpracticeofthemattersuitedtoacavalrycommanderwillbefounddevelopedinthecompaniontreatise.(14)

(14)Inreferenceto"TheCavalryGeneral",or"Hipparch."



Documents

Horsemanship by Xenophon